The name Vaeloria hung in the air like a death sentence.
Damien had known it was coming—felt it before it was spoken. But hearing it aloud?
That changed everything.
Because it wasn't just a name.
It was a memory.
A place that should not exist.
A kingdom erased from history.
A grave that was never buried deep enough.
And now, he was returning.
—
A Warning from the Past
The old woman held his gaze, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. But it wasn't from fear.
It was from recognition.
Erynn took a slow step forward, silver eyes sharp. "You've seen it before."
The woman nodded once. "Not me," she whispered. "But those before me."
Selene frowned. "What does that mean?"
The woman exhaled, gaze flickering to Damien.
"It means Vaeloria doesn't stay forgotten. Not forever." Her voice was quiet. "Every few centuries, the world remembers."